Eric

Writing for the Washington Post, David Moscrop makes the case that Canada is not your utopia. It’s good context for American readers who may be struggling to make sense of Justin Trudeau’s grotesque support for the Trans Mountain Pipeline (which isn’t mentioned in the article) or climate science-denying Doug Ford’s recent election to premier of Ontario.

Aven

Despite so many Americans having spent most of the last week in crisis mode over the ghastly and alarming treatment of asylum seekers at the southern border, there were actually some positive things that happened in the US, too. Notably, a group of conservatives, including some former big name leaders in the Republican Party, have formed a group specifically to pass legislation to put a federal tax on carbon pollution. They’re calling themselves Americans for Carbon Dividends, and their plan actually seems pretty legit.

The movement to rid us of our absurd single-use plastic addiction is in full swing, with both Seattle and Portland soon to become two more of the many jurisdictions to ban single-use plastic straws—which apparently don’t make up a huge portion of the plastic waste flowing into the oceans, but I think the speed with which this campaign has gained momentum is a testament to how successful this kind of campaign can be if you start small and work your way up. First, plastic bags, then straws, then plastic cutlery, and maybe someday soon all single-use plastics? A girl can dream.

John

In the “Weekend Marching” category, readers may know of the June 30 rally in DC to protest the policy of separating immigrant children from their parents. There are also satellite marches across Cascadia.

In the “Need for press freedom,” category, Democracy Now! devoted most of its June 20 program to Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Seymour Hersh.

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